Improvement in sheep-racks



E. & D. SKEELS.

Sheep Ratck.

Patented Sept. 11, 1866.

descr ption thereof, reference being had to the grain-trough, o. Thelength of the arms a n UNITED STATES.

PATENT Qrnren.

ERR SKEELS AND DWIGHT SKEELS, OF SPRINGW'ATER, NEW YORK.

. IMPROVEMENT IN SHEEP-RACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Paten whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ERR SKEELs and DWIGHT SKEELs, of Springwater, inthe county of Livingston and State of New York, have inve ted a new anduseful Improvement in Racks for Feeding Sheep; and we do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact accompanying drawings, makingpart of this spec cation.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved rack; Fig. 2, a verticalcross-section of Q. same; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a portion Q? therack.

7 ire letters of reference indicate corresponding- ,.arts in all thefigures.

0i invention consists in the particular construction of the rack,whereby it is easily put together or taken apart, and in the employmentof a special arrangement of grain-troughs and boards, forming a centralalley, for the purpose of feeding without difficulty from the sheep.

A. suitable frame, A, is provided, consisting of posts a a, cross andside beams, b b c 0, and plates at d. The plates are connected withoppos posts by mortises and tenons, or in some equ. xalent way, so as tobe removable.

The under side of the plates and the upper side of the side beams, c c,are provided with longitudinal grooves ff, in which fit the ends ofremovable slats g g g. The bottoms of these slats are made to abut tohold in place; but at a proper height the sides are cut away, so as LOmake openings h h of sufficient size to admit the heads of the sheep.

The ends of the rack are covered by boards 11 t', Which may or may nothave a door, as desired, though under ordinary circumstances it is notnecessary.

The space inside the rackis divided by boards 7c k into threelongitudinal compartments, Z l m, the two outer ones serving the purposeof racks proper to receive the hay, while the inner one, m answerssimply for an alley or passage for the attendant in feeding.

At the inner corners of each compartment Z are jointed arms a a,connecting in a similar manner at the opposite end to a longitudinal issuch that when turned up, as at the right '0 No. 57,985, dated September11, 1866.

hand in Fig. 2, the trough will simply rest upon the edge of the boardis, where it is retained by a hook and catch, 10; but when turned down,as at left hand, Fig. 2, the trough will be thrown out against the slatsg g. This method of hinging the troughs to the arms allows the troughsto be inverted as well as turned right-side up. By thus securing theslats in place in the grooves f f of the timbers c d we are enabled tomake the device portable by taking it apart at any time and packing itin a compact form; and not only this, but the parts can be applied muchmore expeditiously than if nailed fast, and it is much more effective.

It is only necessary to fit the lower ends of the slats in the groove ofbeam 0, and then shut the plate down over them. Thus, if any one slatbecomes broken or injured, it can be readily replaced. The lower ends ofthe slats abutting fill the whole space, and while the sheep are allowedto insert their heads in the openings there is no danger of misplacement of the slats.

By the employment of the central alley, m, with the racks Z Z on eachside, the attendant is enabled to feed the sheep either with hay orgrain without interference or crowding from them. He has simply to stepover the end of the rack into the alley, whenhe is free from allmolestation.

In ordinary sheep-racks the feed is inserted from the outside, and, insupplying grain especially, the animals in their eagerness crowd aroundthe attendant in such a manner as not only to seriously impede hisaction, but fre quently to spill the grain. No difficulty can occur fromthis source in this arrangement.

When the sheep are fed with hay the grain= troughs are turned bottomupward over the boards 70 7c, and secured there in such a manner thatthe hay and dirt cannot enter them, as shown at the right hand in Fig.2. In feedingwith grain the attendant, standing on the inside of therack, turns the trough over on the board It, right-side up, and thenfills it properly from end to end. He then simply turns it back againstthe slats in the position shown at the left hand in Fig. 2, where thesheep can easily reach it. By this arrangement not only is the attendantout of reach of the animals, but the latter commence to eat space at thebottom, the whole operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination and arrangement of the grain-troughs o and hingedarms 11 with the boards k 70, forming a central alley, in the manner andfor the purpose herein set forth.

3. The special construction and arrangement of the portable sheep-rack,as herein specified.

ERR SKEELS. DWIGHT SKEELS.

Witnesses A. G. JACKMAN, JASPER PARTRIDGE.

